Rejected: A love story-Chapter 28: A boyfriend with no morals

Duncan arrived at the college the next morning with Valerie and Catherine beside him. Catherine’s face was still swollen slightly, her expression full of grievance as she clutched her mother’s arm.

"This school has crossed a line," Valerie snapped as they walked into the administration building. "They think they can bully my daughter because of some rich boy?"

The Dean barely had time to sit them down before the complaints started flying.

"My daughter was assaulted," Duncan said firmly. "And now she’s being threatened with expulsion unless she apologises to that girl and her... boyfriend."

Valerie scoffed. "A boyfriend with no morals. A man old enough to know better."

The Dean tried to calm them. "Please lower your voices. This is a school environment."

"We demand to speak to the owner of this college," Valerie said sharply. "Immediately."

The Dean sighed. "That won’t be possible without an appointment or a formal request."

That only made things worse.

"So now you’re blocking us too?" Duncan slammed his palm on the desk. "Is this how you run a school? You clearly favour people who look like they have money to throw around."

"You should be reported," Valerie added. "In fact, you deserve to be fired."

The Dean stood up, trying to placate them. "Please—"

The door opened suddenly and Nathan walked in calmly, his presence immediately shifting the air. He didn’t greet anyone or explain himself. He simply took a seat across from them, crossing his legs.

Catherine’s eyes widened.

"That’s him," she laughed mockingly. "That’s Fiona’s little boyfriend. Dad, that’s the man who thinks he can get me expelled."

Duncan squinted, recognition flashing.

"...You," he muttered. "You were at the restaurant. You’re the one she ran away with."

The Dean straightened instantly. "Good morning, sir."

Valerie scoffed loudly. "Unbelievable. You greet him with respect but he ignored us? What kind of values do you have?"

Duncan nodded angrily. "Exactly. This school is a joke."

Nathan remained silent, watching them like they were entertaining rather than insulting.

Duncan leaned forward, furious. "I want to see the owner. Now. This school is clearly incapable of handling anything properly."

He hit the desk again. Nathan finally spoke.

"Go ahead," he said calmly.

"What is your complaint?"

The room froze for a sec.

Catherine burst out laughing. "Oh please. Are you serious right now? You think you’re funny?"

She looked at him with open contempt. "You should consider acting. You almost sounded convincing."

Nathan didn’t even look at her. His eyes stayed on Duncan.

"Weren’t you anxious to speak to the owner?" he asked coolly.

"Or have you suddenly lost your voice?"

Duncan turned sharply to the Dean. "What is the meaning of this? The owner is Haven Williams, not—"

The Dean swallowed hard.

"...Mr Keith," he said quietly, "is the new owner of this institution. The documents were finalised recently."

"You can verify it on the college website," the Dean added nervously.

Catherine frowned and pulled out her phone.

Her smile vanished immediately, her parents grabbed the phone from her hands.

Nathan Keith

— Majority Stakeholder

— Chairman

— Owner

Valerie’s face drained of colour and Duncan felt his throat go dry.

Nathan stood slowly, straightening his suit.

He looked at them, expression unreadable.

"So," he said calmly, voice cold and steady, 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"do you still want to speak with the owner?"

Catherine dropped to her knees.

"I’ll apologise," she cried, grabbing at Nathan’s trouser leg. "I’ll do anything. Please, I don’t want to get expelled. Please—"

Nathan didn’t even look down.He stepped back once, calmly, as if she wasn’t there at all.

"Get up," he said flatly, then he turned and walked out of the office without another word.

The door shut immediately. Catherine broke down instantly, sobbing into her mother’s arms.

"Sir," Duncan said suddenly, turning to the Dean, his face dark. "I want to see Fiona. Now."

The Dean hesitated. "Mr Brown, I don’t think this is a good idea—"

"Is she not my daughter?" Duncan snapped. "Or do I need permission to speak to my own child now too?

The Dean sighed heavily. "I’ll have her sent in."

Fiona walked into the office a few minutes later, she stopped the moment she saw all of them.

"What’s going on?" Fiona asked quietly.

Duncan laughed — a cold, bitter sound

"You really had me fooled," he said. "All these past weeks I felt sorry for you. Thinking you were suffering. Thinking you were innocent."

Fiona frowned. "Dad... what are you talking about?"

"Don’t call me that!" he roared.

"I couldn’t possibly have a daughter like you," he continued. "A girl who runs away from home to sleep with a man. A girl who plans all this nonsense just to ruin her sister."

"Sister?" Fiona scoffed bitterly. "So this is about her now. She’s your precious little thing, right?"

"Don’t you dare call my daughter a thing," Valerie snapped sharply. "Watch your filthy mouth."

Fiona looked at her father but he said nothing. That silence hurt more than any slap.

"Did you call me here just to insult me?" Fiona asked, her voice trembling despite her effort to stay calm.

"I called you here to applaud you," Duncan said coldly. "For finally showing me who you really are."

She stared at him, stunned.

"Now," he continued, pointing a finger at her face, "tell that arrogant boyfriend of yours to leave Catherine alone. She is NOT getting expelled. Do you hear me?"

Fiona let out a shaky laugh.

"How is that my business?" she asked. "If you have a problem, speak to the owner yourself."

Valerie shook her head dramatically. "Do you see now? This is what I’ve been telling you all along. She’s heartless."

Duncan looked at Fiona with pure disgust.

"When did you become like this?" he said. "You make me regret ever calling you my daughter."

That was when the tear she had been holding in slipped, Fiona wiped it away immediately.

"So now you hate me too?" she asked softly.

"If you think those fake tears will change anything, don’t even try," Valerie warned.

Fiona turned slowly toward Catherine.

"How is she getting expelled my fault?" she asked, almost pleading now.

"Don’t pretend," Catherine suddenly snapped. "You told him to buy the school just to get me expelled. The truth is out, Fiona."

Fiona froze.

"What?" she whispered.

"Fix this," Duncan said sharply, already turning away. "Or you cease to be my daughter from today."

He walked out and Valerie followed, throwing Fiona one last poisonous look.

Catherine paused at the door, spat near Fiona’s face.

"Witch." then she left too.

Fiona just stood there. She didn’t move nor speak.

The Dean stepped closer, voice gentle. "Miss Brown... I’m so sorry."

She didn’t answer, she walked out quietly, holding everything in — until she reached the bathroom.And that was where she finally broke down in tears.